Cost of Living Comparison Between San Rafael and Mendoza Cost of Living Comparison Between San Rafael and Mendoza

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $879 per month in San Rafael vs $1,084 in Mendoza, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,436 per month in San Rafael vs $1,724 in Mendoza, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,993 per month in San Rafael vs $2,363 in Mendoza, rent included.

San Rafael is about 19% cheaper than Mendoza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both San Rafael and Mendoza are more affordable than the global median – San Rafael 34% lower, Mendoza 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.17 ARS 14.3K

$10.90 ARS 15.4K

-6.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.39 ARS 28.7K

$40.34 ARS 56.8K

-49.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.95 ARS 8,380

$9.60 ARS 13.5K

-38.02%

Cappuccino

$1.78 ARS 2,509

$3.62 ARS 5,094

-50.83%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 ARS 1,439

$2.26 ARS 3,185

-54.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 ARS 1,427

$2.06 ARS 2,907

-50.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ARS 1,448

$1.95 ARS 2,747

-47.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 ARS 2,150

$2.97 ARS 4,178

-48.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 ARS 1,470

$1.27 ARS 1,790

-18.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ARS 2,107

$1.53 ARS 2,159

-1.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 ARS 1,992

$1.96 ARS 2,759

-28.06%

Eggs

$1.57 ARS 2,217

$2.21 ARS 3,117

-28.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.36 ARS 7,549

$11.44 ARS 16.1K

-53.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.67 ARS 10.8K

$7.34 ARS 10.3K

4.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.43 ARS 9,052

$9.69 ARS 13.6K

-33.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.79 ARS 2,517

$1.98 ARS 2,784

-9.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ARS 2,050

$1.47 ARS 2,076

-0.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 ARS 2,175

$1.52 ARS 2,134

1.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.92 ARS 1,300

$2.15 ARS 3,021

-57.21%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ARS 1,002

$0.98 ARS 1,381

-27.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 ARS 1,024

$1.03 ARS 1,445

-29.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 ARS 910

$0.98 ARS 1,374

-33.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 ARS 1,725

$2.62 ARS 3,688

-53.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.75 ARS 2,468

$2.44 ARS 3,430

-28.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.13 ARS 7,217

$4.97 ARS 7,003

3.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ARS 1,571

$1.96 ARS 2,766

-42.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ARS 2,231

$3.40 ARS 4,791

-53.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 ARS 1,091

$0.71 ARS 1,003

8.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.66 ARS 26.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 ARS 625

$0.44 ARS 623

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ARS 1,447

$1.03 ARS 1,446

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.01 ARS 7,056

$4.76 ARS 6,710

5.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 ARS 1,179

$1.19 ARS 1,680

-29.41%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.7K ARS 44.7M

$32.1K ARS 45.2M

-1.10%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.2K ARS 46.7M

$33.1K ARS 46.6M

0.22%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$76.5 ARS 107.7K

$75.8 ARS 106.7K

0.99%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.61 ARS 9,312

$17.27 ARS 24.3K

-61.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.28 ARS 21.5K

$22.09 ARS 31.1K

-30.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.84 ARS 36.4K

$27.87 ARS 39.2K

-7.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.92 ARS 19.6K

$16.09 ARS 22.7K

-13.49%

Cinema Ticket

$6.03 ARS 8,485

$5.90 ARS 8,303

2.20%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$104 ARS 146.3K

$104 ARS 146.5K

-0.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,131 ARS 3.0M

$2,157 ARS 3.0M

-1.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.1 ARS 116.9K

$82.9 ARS 116.7K

0.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$78.0 ARS 109.9K

$75.4 ARS 106.2K

3.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$149 ARS 209.4K

$151 ARS 213.2K

-1.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ARS 164.6K

$118 ARS 166.1K

-0.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 ARS 472.5K

$356 ARS 501.5K

-5.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$234 ARS 329.2K

$272 ARS 382.5K

-13.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ARS 976.0K

$603 ARS 848.9K

14.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$530 ARS 746.4K

$510 ARS 718.3K

3.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,882 ARS 2.6M

$1,680 ARS 2.4M

12.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,107 ARS 1.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$456 ARS 641.6K

$739 ARS 1.0M

-38.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for San Rafael: April 26, 2026

Last update for Mendoza: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $336 in San Rafael versus $356 in Mendoza. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 62% higher in Mendoza, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in San Rafael versus $40.00 in Mendoza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $247 – making San Rafael the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

San Rafael vs Mendoza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mendoza is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,319 per month in San Rafael and $1,626 in Mendoza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Rafael, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $879 in San Rafael and $1,084 in Mendoza. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $104 per month in San Rafael and $104 in Mendoza. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Rafael, where all-in costs run around $879, than in Mendoza at $1,084. In San Rafael it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mendoza it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Rafael – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with San Rafael. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mendoza makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.